Does anybody know what sound card(s) configuration I would require to be able to monitor sound from a wav file, i.e. hear it through my headphones, but at the same time isolate it from all other sounds on the PC (important because line-in will be in use) and send it on the line-out?

Can´t you, in propertys for sounds,set it to "no Sounds"?

I don't understand your problem, especially if you can use separate sound cards.

One can receive audio (from its line-in) and the other one can be used for playback (to headphones and line out). The latter should have separate headphone and line out connectors or you can use a headphone output on your amplifier, mixer etc.

Actually, a single soundcard can handle this if it supports full duplex mode (simultaneous recording and playback) and there is no need to redirect the line-in signal to another output (i.e. you just record it without monitoring).

Perhaps you should rephrase the question and describe exactly what you are after for.

Appreciate the fast replies.

I think I will be able to do it with the use of an external USB sound card. With the WAV application dedicated to the second soundcard.



The Mic In on the first soundcard is stereo capable, so I don't think it should be a problem.

I'm not sure to understand what you want to do. (Is this a typical DJ use?)

btw If you have a simple 5.1 audiocard, you can play (or monitor) the line-in on the front line-out and the line-out+other (or only other) one the rear output. Maybe you can do this simply using a player like foobar, or two players...
a software player for Djs should have this function.

edit (to explain): In your diagram I see only 1 "real" stereo input and 2 "real" stereo outputs. You don't need 2 audiocards to do this, but only 1 audiocard with a couple of stereo outputs (like a 5.1 audicard, as I said) and a software to route the audio paths.

Any normal single soundcard can play audio out audio at the same time it inputs different audio. The two functions are independent (except that they must be at the same sample rate). If you are getting a mix of line-in and line-out, it is only because the soundcard mixer has been set to combine them.

I've got hold of a second USB soundcard now, only to discover when something is plugged into the headphones socket the Line Out switches off, which is no help.

The application I want to use is Soundplant, which some of you may know. I need to be able to monitor the Line In and Soundplant at the same time from one PC, but somehow output the audio from Soundplant by itself.

I have a 7.1 soundcard, so if there was some means of using these extra channels I'd love to hear it, excuse the pun. : )

PS. Will ASIO help me at all? I've looked at it a bit but I don't know how to get the application to interface with it.

What does
output the audio from Soundplant by itself
mean? Play it out some speakers? Record it? Something else?

Play it to some speakers.

I don't think ASIO drivers are relevant. You cannot address the separate output channels on most multi-media cards.

Using two soundcards will not keep things on the two cards in synch for very long. This can only be done when there is a way to force both to use one clock. This may not matter for your purposes, but you should be aware of it in case there is any significant result.

If you output to speakers from Soundplant through one card, you will have what you want there. Virtual Audio Cables may be able to tap into that output and direct it to the mixer input of the second card for headphone monitoring, without effecting what is going to the speakers.
http://spider.nrcde.ru/music/software/eng/vac.html

Sorry for the delay in posting.

That Virtual Audio Cable program you led me onto did the job great.

Thanks a lot for the help.